Sweetest Splendor
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2013 Kacey Hammell
ISBN: 978-1-77130-611-9
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: JC Chute
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To all my readers who wanted to see more of these characters and learn more about the Club. Who am I to say no to any of you? Enjoy!
SWEETEST SPLENDOR
Club Splendor, 2
Kacey Hammell
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
“You’ll be missed around here. I expect to see you soon.” Bridget Guthrie’s boss gave her a tight hug, and she reciprocated his embrace.
“I’ll definitely stop by as often as I can. Give Andy my best, too.” She exited his office, closed the door behind her and hurried down the dimly lit hallway, trying to hold her tears at bay.
She’d loved her job every day of the last five years. As hostess at Club Splendor for three of those years, she’d connected with a lot of people, built relationships with the staff and anticipated coming to work every day. One of the hottest spots in Ottawa, the club maintained a full membership and requests poured in consistently. No other job rewarded her as much as this one had.
But Bridget had dreams she wanted to pursue. Tonight was her last night here and new beginnings started tomorrow.
Grabbing the clipboard from the bar, she headed into the private areas of the club. All hallways were dimly lit, each room decorated with rich, sensuous black and burgundy, golds and reds. Corner booths took up most of the bar area, as well as within private viewing areas that were curtained off and secluded to afford privacy.
Only personally invited people became members at Splendor. Hunter Sullivan was selective in his clientele––most were friends and acquaintances of other participants, all of whom underwent extreme background checks, meetings and extra-personal questions about their sex lives. And he expected the absolute strictest confidence from all his staff.
Bridget intended to become a member someday. Perhaps now she’d have that chance since she’d no longer be working here come Monday. Hunter had such strict rules about his employees being members, or becoming involved with any of the current ones, that leaving meant she’d finally be free to explore the more titillating side of Club Splendor. She wanted to give herself the chance to indulge some deep-seated sexual fantasies, like being a part of a trio, being watched … to see how far her darkest desires truly went.
She checked room after room, making sure they were no longer occupied. Though she’d been hired as hostess, Hunter also gave her some managerial duties. She prided herself on giving members everything they needed, and had everything at their disposal from the beginning of their arrival to the very end. Now, she anticipated their needs and worked hard to ensure perfection in everything. Many of them called her personally if they requested something new, or to arrange kinkier games to try, or a specific group dalliance they’d never participated in before.
Bridget closed the second last door and crossed the hall to the last room.
Her favorite.
The plush black carpeting, the red leather sofas and chaise, and the cinnamon scent filled her senses with decadence and comfort. Red curtains hid clear glass, allowing an audience to watch. Each room connected to viewing areas where other members engaged in whatever carnal acts they chose.
Clientele understood they might be watched at any moment, and all signed off on it. The club’s strict rules of keeping identities and names secret allowed everyone the safety and privacy they sought, since many people might frown upon what happened behind closed doors. Members who enjoyed the kinkier, decadent and sometimes D/s lifestyles paid a lot of money for the safety and trust of the owner and staff.
She scanned her clipboard to discover the names of the people on the other side of the glass. Seeing Paige & Nolan’s names on the paper, her heart skipped a beat. They were one of her favorite married couples to deal with. Pleasant, fun, and spontaneous, and neither were shy when it came to sex. They made her job very easy.
Bridget had even come to know Paige a bit outside of the club. They’d met for lunch a few times and found they had a lot in common. She’d been one of the first to encourage Bridget to reach for her big career dream.
She found Paige a stunning and erotic woman with a charming, attentive sexual tiger for a husband – the kind of man Bridget longed to find. And she hoped to dig deep enough and find great sexuality in herself, like Paige had. Confident, sexy, uninhibited…
Bridget heaved a sigh and sat on the sofa, crossing off the completed tasks from her to-do list. She had so many desires and fantasies, but no vast experience with sex.
Twenty-nine years old, and most of her experiences came from watching others in the back rooms of the club if she happened to catch a peek while checking on clients. The three men she’d been involved with weren’t ones she’d ever brag about. All were selfish, quick, and uncaring about her needs.
As much as she longed to be a member of Club Splendor, she wouldn’t be talking to Hunter about it any time soon. Nervous butterflies fluttered in her stomach just thinking about it.
The door swung open, startling her. Recognizing the man who entered, she smiled. “Zander, what are you doing here?”
Zander Hudson was the perfect specimen of manhood. Clichéd, but tall, dark and handsome fit him exactly. His curly and black hair reached the nape of his neck, well-kept but unruly. Her fingers itched often to run through it to see if it was as silky as it seemed.
She considered his hunter-green eyes deep recesses of knowledge and kindness. He listened whenever someone spoke to him, and he always focused on whomever he spoke with. He’d started as a maître d’ but had since been promoted to Assistant Manager. They’d become friends working together over the last three years, and she confided in him a lot.
They’d also flirted, shared a few caresses and lingering touches. She enjoyed the long and smoky glances he sent her way when he thought she wasn’t looking. But the club’s strict no staff fraternization rule kept them from acting on their mutual attraction.
He shoved the door behind him and leaned against it, arms crossed over his chest, a scowl on his face. “I leave for two weeks and find out from the new bartender that you’re leaving.”
So he was unhappy with her career change. Bridget let out a breath, and set the clipboard on the seat beside her. God, he was sexy and fine standing there, dressed in all black, his shirt unbuttoned--probably because of the humid summer weather--and showing off the tan he’d gotten while in Miami. “I’m sorry. I tried to reach you before you left, but I wasn’t able to.”
He gaped at her. “You haven’t heard of texting?”
“I wasn’t about to bother you on vacation. I planned to come see you tomorrow.” She frowned. “Why are you home a day early?”
“That’s not important.” He pushed away from the door and took a seat next to her. “You’re really leaving.”
He hadn’t posed it as a question but she nodded anyway. Zander grabbed her hand and held it between both of his. “You’re the captain that really runs this place, you know.”
She laid her head on his shoulder, comfortable in their friendship. But her heart raced, reminding
her that she wished they could be more.
If only she had the courage to share how she really felt about him…no, she wasn’t going there. Now was not the time. There’d be little to no time for a new relationship once she started school. Striving for a double business degree, which involved double the classes and workload, wouldn’t leave much time for anything else. She wished she could keep her job here and do it all, but it would be too much of a burden, and something had to give.
“Carleton University, huh,” Zander grumbled, shoving his shoulder against hers.
“Yeah, double business. I’m planning to be done in two years instead of four. That’s why I needed to quit, to be finished sooner.”
He laced his fingers in hers. His touch sent sparks along her arm. If only he knew what he did to her. How her pussy quivered being this close to him. She took a deep breath, lifted her head from his shoulder and scooted away. “I have to get a few more things done before I call it a night.”
“Everything finalized with Hunter? You know Andy’s going to miss you.”
Bridget smiled. Andy, their boss’ fiancée, was another person she’d grown close to in the last year. They’d known one another for about four years, but since Andy started seeing Hunter and came around more, she and Bridget had become good friends, too.
Years ago, Andy had frequented the club with Patrick, her then-husband, but after his death, she and Hunter had finally realized their romantic feelings for one another. Bridget had adored Patrick, even harboured a bit of a crush on him, and was saddened by his untimely death. He`d always been such a gentleman with her, sharing humorous stories, and flirting a little. Bridget missed him very much.
She shook those sad memories from her mind. “It’s not as though I’ll never stop around to say hi, you know. I’ll miss seeing everyone all the time, but this is important to me.” She stood and walked to the table beside the stairs that led into the other mirrored hideaway. Members solely watched the events in the other room or were welcomed to join in, but all participants had to be in agreement.
Remembering the couple on the other side of the curtain, a shiver snaked along her spine. If alone, and since Paige and Nolan were probably the last couple in the building, Bridget might have considered taking a peek.
It was one of her favorite aspects of each room. A simple push of the button and all participants became aware of each other if they wished, since the glass could be controlled as one-sided or not. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d watched Paige and Nolan in secret. But she’d never had the guts to change the settings to let them see her too.
“I know following your dreams is important to you, Bridget. I’m happy for you.” Zander sidled closer, and massaged her stiff shoulders.
“Thank you. I know you are. It’s just—” she swallowed past the lump in her throat. “It is hard to think of leaving. I love this job. I’ll miss it.”
“You’ll miss me more though, right?” His light tone lifted her mood.
She laughed. “Of course. Who else will I get to boss around?”
He chuckled and pulled her in to his chest, aligning her against his stomach. Her breath hitched as his arms wrapped around her waist and squeezed her tight. Her nipples tingled and her heart rate accelerated.
Being this close to him, his long body behind her, the dreams she had about a moment like this…. She wished she could turn in his arms, press her lips to his and see where it led. But their friendship meant a lot to her. The fun flirting and teasing had never gone to the next level, but no other man in her life affected her more.
And now they would no longer be working together…but she wasn’t sure how deep his feelings for her ran.
“Damn, you smell good. What is that you’re wearing?” Zander asked, his face buried in her neck.
“Umm, something berry I guess.” Her words sounded breathless even to her own ears. He never held her like this before. She shivered.
“You cold?” He ran his palms over her stomach, then his arms tightened around her.
She shook her head, speechless, about to melt into a puddle at his feet. Relaxing into his embrace, she aligned with his front. “Zander--”
“You know I’ve always wondered something about you,” he murmured.
“What’s that?” she questioned, mouth dry.
“If any of what happens around this place excites you,” he whispered against her neck.
She reclined her head on his shoulder, sighing. Could she confess her innermost thoughts to him?
The air in the room heightened at least twenty degrees. The fire in her belly spread along her limbs to her fingertips. “Why is that important to you?”
Clasping her hands in his, he rasped, “I’ve always had the desire to know what makes you tick. I’ve watched you a long time, secretly wanting to know more about you. Finding reasons to be close to you.”
Excitement slithered along her body, her heart nearly leaping from her chest.
“We’ve been friends a long time, Bridget, but you know what? I want more.” He ran his lips along her neck, warming her skin until they reached her ear. “Tell me what turns you on,” he whispered, then captured her earlobe in his teeth.
Chapter Two
Bridget gasped and inched away from him. Turning, her eyes locked with his. Her bottom came up against the table behind, her heart racing, realizing there was little room to move. She was trapped. Nerves skated down her spine. The hunger and need in the darkness of his eyes emboldened her, filling her with a confidence she never experienced before.
No time to think about that. Not when desperate need coursed through her. His first kiss against her skin changed things. There was no way she’d accept just friendship with him now.
Anxious, wanting to hold onto this moment with him, and share her innermost desires, she grabbed the remote from the table and hit a button. The curtains behind her opened. She watched Zander’s eyes shift upward and go wide. They returned to hers and he grinned.
Bridget hit another button and the room filled with moans and sounds of flesh slapping against flesh. She trembled hearing the couple’s rough, but no doubt exhilarating, sex behind the glass. Always hard on each other while at the same time as gentle as their love, both enjoyed vigorous and no-holds barred sex and gave no apologies.
Zander stepped toward her, and skimmed his palms across her stomach, creating heat and butterflies circling inside her. So hot. His skin warmed her.
But when he lowered his head to hers, his lips gliding against hers, all thoughts fled and she pulled him closer, need and anticipation filling her.
Empowered, she slipped her tongue inside of his mouth. He moaned and opened wider for her, allowing her to discover the delicious taste of him. Cupping his ass cheeks, she held him close as they explored, and his palms drifted over the globes of her bottom.
Her heart thrummed as he fisted the soft cotton of her skirt then tugged her even closer. She didn’t think it was possible to be so absorbed in this man. She craved crawling all over him for endless hours.
Zander pressed his forehead against hers. “Bridget,” he muttered, “I want you. So much.”
“I want you too.” She brushed her lips against his.
Lifting his hands, he made quick work of the buttons of her blouse. He pulled open the sides, and groaned. “This is what you wear to work?”
He smoothed his fingers along the valley between her breasts and skimmed over the sheer see-through material of her bra. She loved lingerie and spent as much money as possible at Victoria’s Secret. Her one indulgence, she treated to herself whenever she socked her school money away from her allotted bi-weekly checks or any extra income from working more hours at the club.
His wide and hungry eyes made her feel sexy and she smirked at him. “You don’t like it?”
“If I liked it any better I’d have a heart attack right now. Jesus, gorgeous…your tits are so hot behind that lacy stuff.”
She giggled. “The panties match.”
He sucked in a deep breath, turned her around and clasped the zipper, then eased it down.
Bridget’s eyes lifted to the glass. “Oh my God,” she gasped.
Both naked on the bed, Paige’s fingers held Nolan’s head between her thighs. His tongue flicked in rapid succession, his lips feasting on his wife’s pussy.
“Like that, do you, babe?” Zander questioned, and pushed her skirt to the floor. His palms cupped her bottom. “I love it. Fucking love your choice of underwear, too. Your tight ass is spectacular. I could stare at you all day.”
Bridget pulled her gaze from the couple then glanced over her shoulder at him. “That’s all you want to do, look?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Hell, no. Turn around. You can watch your peep show another time, but I want to see that pussy of yours.”
She turned toward him on the short heels, hands on her hips and let his gaze wander over her body, trying not to fidget. Never had she stood before a man like this – allowing him to see all her flaws. She was far from a size two – or hell, even a twelve – but she tried to watch what she ate and took care of herself. Unfortunately, the late hours she worked didn’t allow for the best eating habits. There were curves in places she wished there weren’t but wouldn’t call herself overweight.
“Spread your legs for me,” Zander commanded in a gruff tone. Excitement shot down her spine. Complying, she widened her stance.
“I can see your wetness from here. It’s sexy as hell.” His gaze lifted, spearing her with a look of smoldering intensity and direct and open honesty. “I want you.”
Bridget swallowed hard. She needed to be consumed by him and taken with everything he had to give her. “And our friendship?”
He shook his head. “We’ve already crossed the line. I won’t settle for less now. You mean too much to me. This means too much to me.”